The Steinbach Pistons have added to their staff as the club announced that Calvin Bugyik will be joining as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2018/19 season.

Bugyik brings a wealth of experience behind the bench as he's spent 10 years in the Eastman region. He's held a number of different positions including the head coach of the Hockey Manitoba Directors Cup team and the Eastman City Selects.

He was named head coach of the Selects of the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League back in 2013 and led the team to an impressive 93-28-11 record during his time at the helm.

His best season was 2015-16, guiding Eastman to a 40-1-3 regular season record and a trip to the finals.

He has spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Wild of the MMHL, helping them become one of the top teams in the province that captured back-to-back championships.

Moving up into the Junior A level of hockey has Bugyik excited and ready for the season to start. "I think it's nice to do something different. Every year is different but I've been in the midget league for a while and enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun and met a lot of really great people but it's exciting to move up to another level and experience of what that's like. And with everything that's going on in Steinbach and with Paul, it's exciting too."

Bugyik is joining a bench that is coming off the most successful year in franchise history after capturing both the Turnbull Cup and ANANVET Cup this past season and that also have Bugyik chomping at the bit to get going. "I think everyone who's involved in the game from AAA Midget levels to Junior levels and above, winning is a big part of it. To know I'm a part of an organization that doesn't just want to win, they expect to win and obviously have been very successful, it's exciting more than anything, that's for sure."

After being named to the job, Bugyik has had time to let it sink in and is looking forward to working with the MJHL's reigning coach of the year in Paul Dyck and one of the top video coaches in the province in Graham Pollock "From my perspective, early on, getting to know Paul than then I already do. How he works just day to day and then during games. Finding my niche on the bench and among the staff. I've played for Graham way back when and coached with him when I first started. Just seeing where I fit and bringing in my perspective and my experiences to the table. I'm confident it will be a good fit and that we'll work well together. For now, it's finding a rhythm day to day."

Having seen the game grow and change from a younger age group, Bugyik is confident he can bring another level of experience to the bench. "It doesn't hurt, that's for sure. In AAA Midget by in large, most if not all want to go onto Junior or beyond. Having seen where they guys have come from it provides a bit on insight. This will be an older group but it's not much different. There will be some things that will be different but hockey players are hockey players. There's a puck, usually about 200 feet and a bunch of guys out there. I don't think it will be drastically different."

The Pistons staff are on the same page a lot of the time unless you're talking favourite hockey teams, then it gets interesting with Dyck a Montreal Canadiens supports and Pollock a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Bugyik plans on not getting in the middle of that. "If I had to pick either of those teams... I wouldn't."

There is a fun and close relationship formed between the staff and Bugyik is looking forward to that side of it as well. "I know Graham and Paul and I know for myself, coming to the rink it has to be fun. When you're there as much as you are and together as much as you are, even with the players, it has to be fun. Not always fun, mind you. But there has to be some element of fun. I like to have a good time at the rink. There's a time for work and a time for fun and we'll find a way to balance it all out."